FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


a;^ 4^^0 


THE    NEW    SONG. 


::v^Y^'?^ 


THE    NEW    SONG 


p^-i  OF  PHiaio^ 
NOV    2   1932  *^ 


\^^ 


?-A 


SERMON, 


DELIVERED   IN 


BOWDOIN.  STREET     CHURCH,     BOSTON. 


BY    DANIEL    DANA,    D.D., 

Minister  of  the  Gospel  in  Newburyport. 


BOSTON: 

PRESS    OF    CROCPIER    AND    BREWSTER, 

47,   Washington-street. 

1849. 


This  Sermon  has  been  preached  in  several  pulpits  ;  and  by  the  ad- 
vice and  request  of  several  judicious  friends,  it  is  now  submitted  to  the 
public. 

It  contains  little  more  than  those  plain  truths  which  are  familiar  and 
dear  to  the  pious  mind,  and  by  which  genuine  relig-ion  is  kept  alive  iu 
the  world.  Yet  as  it  may  too  often  be  justly  said  of  these  very  truths, 
that  "  they've  been  so  long  remember'd,  they're  forgot,"  the  author  is 
quite  content  to  act,  in  the  case,  the  humble  part  of  a  remembrancer. 

"^ewburyport,  June  10, 1849.  , 


SERMON. 


Revelation  v,  9. 

And  they  sung  a  new  song. 

For  the  wisest  reasons,  our  heavenly  Father  has 
shrouded  in  obscurity  each  of  the  widely  different 
worlds  which  lie  before  us.  A  distinct  view,  either  of 
the  glories  of  the  one,  or  the  horrors  of  the  other, 
would  confound  and  overwhelm  our  feeble  faculties. 
Even  were  it  otherwise,  such  a  view  would  comport 
neither  mth  the  duties,  nor  the  conflicts,  nor  the  com- 
forts of  our  present  state  of  being.  But,  in  the  in- 
spired page  before  us,  the  veil  which  separates  between 
earth  and  heaven  seems,  for  a  moment,  uplifted  ;  and 
we  obtain  a  glimpse  of  the  sublime  felicities  and  em- 
ployments of  the  celestial  state.  Let  us  then  escape 
awhile  from  the  low  and  polluted  scenes  of  earth.  Let 
us  rise,  in  thought,  to  a  superior  region.  Let  us  listen 
to  the  concert  of  the  blest.  Let  us  catch  the  notes 
which  resound  through  the  arches  of  heaven,  and  which 
engage  the  ear  of  the  high  and  lofty  one  who  in- 
habits eternity. 


We  will  distinctly  inquire,  what  is  the  song  here  in- 
tended ? — why  it  is  called  a  new  song  ? — ^by  whom  it  is 
sung  ? — and  with  what  emotions  ? 

The  song  itself  is  a  hymn  of  praise  to  the  divine 
Redeemer.  The  inspired  writer  informs  us  that  when 
no  created  being  in  the  universe  was  found  worthy  to 
unseal  and  explain  the  book  which  was  held  in  the 
right  hand  of  Him  who  sits  on  the  throne  of  heaven, 
and  which  contained  his  eternal  counsels  and  purposes 
respecting  his  church,  then  he  "  beheld,  and  lo,  in  the 
midst  of  the  throne,  and  of  the  four  beasts,  (or  living 
beings,')  and  in  the  midst  of  the  elders,  stood  a  Lamb, 
as  it  had  been  slain,  having  seven  horns,  and  seven 
eyes,  which  are  the  seven  spirits  of  God,  sent  forth 
into  all  the  earth :  and  he  came  and  took  the  book  out 
of  the  right  hand  of  him  that  sat  upon  the  throne." 
It  was  on  this  great  occasion  that  "  the  four  living  be- 
ings, and  the  four  and  twenty  elders  fell  down  before 
the  Lamb,  having  every  one  of  them  harps,  and  golden 
vials  full  of  odors,  which  are  the  prayers  of  saints." 
Immediately  it  is  added,  "  And  they  sung  a  new  song, 
saying.  Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open 
the  seals  thereof :  for  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  re- 
deemed us  to  God  by  thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred, 
and  tongue,  and  people,  and  nation  ;  and  hast  made 
us  unto  our  God  kings  and  priests ;  and  we  shall  reign 
on  the  earth."  It  appears,  then,  that  the  new  song 
which  resounds  through  the  regions  of  bliss,  is  a  song 
of  praise  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  name  calls 
forth  from  the  myriads  of  the  redeemed,  their  sweetest, 


loftiest  notes  of  adoption.  His  glories,  his  love,  his 
humiliations,  his  triumphs  constitute  the  theme  of  their 
everlasting  hallelujahs.  But  in  paying  these  divine 
honors  to  the  Son  of  God,  the  redeemed  are  not  alone. 
"  I  beheld,"  says  the  inspired  writer,  "  and  I  heard 
the  voice  of  many  angels  round  about  the  throne,  and 
the  number  of  them  was  ten  thousand  times  ten  thou- 
sand, and  thousands  of  thousands,  saying  with  a  loud 
voice,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  to  receive 
power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and 
honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing."  But  even  this  is  not 
all.  The  ivhole  creation  is  represented  as  uniting  with 
redeemed  and  angelic  spirits  in  adoring  the  Redeemer. 
*'  And  every  creature  v,-hich  is  in  heaven,  and  on  the 
earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  such  as  are  in  the  sea, 
and  all  that  are  in  them,  heai'd  I  saying.  Blessing,  and 
honor,  and  glory,  and  power  be  unto  Him  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  forever  and 
ever." 

What,  my  brethren,  shall  we  say  to  these  things  ? 
Is  heaven  a  scene  of  idolatry  ?  Do  its  arches  ring 
with  eternal  hallelujahs  to  a  creature  ?  Do  glorified 
saints,  and  spotless  seraphs  pay  their  highest,  humblest 
adorations  to  a  creature  ?  And  does  all  creation  unite 
its  voice  to  swell  the  mighty  chorus  of  praise  to  a  crea- 
ture ? — The  thought  is  too  full  of  impiety  and  horror, 
to  be  for  a  moment  admitted.  What  then  is  the  infer- 
ence ;  the  necessary,  irresistible  inference  ?  Jesus 
Christ  is  God.  He  is  worthy  of  the  same  honor,  the 
same  glory,  the  same  worship,  which  is  due  to  the  eter- 
1* 


6 


nal  Father.  To  pay  him  this  tribute,  is  no  idolatry  ; 
but  the  first,  the  most  indispensable,  the  most  delight- 
ful of  duties.  Let  those  ^^ho  proscribe  this  homage, 
strengthen  themselves  by  such  arguments  as  ingenuity 
or  sophistry  can  devise.  AYe  confidently  oppose  to 
them  the  songs  of  heaven;  the  example  of  glorified, 
saints,  of  angels,  of  the  Avhole  creation  of  God.  We 
will  cherish  this  most  precious  doctrine  of  our  Saviour's 
divinity  in  our  inmost  hearts.  It  shall  never,  never  be 
wrested  from  us.  We  will  cling  to  it  with  the  greater 
tenacity,  the  more  it  is  denied  and  opposed.  Nor  will 
we  fear  to  adore,  while  on  earth,  that  Redeemer  whom 
we  humbly  hope  to  adore  eternally  in  heaven. 

Farther  ;  the  redeemed,  while  celebrating  the  glo- 
ries of  their  Saviour,  celebrate  with  peculiar  emphasis, 
his  sufferings  and  death.  These  constitute  the  burden 
of  their  everlasting  song.  "  Thou  art  worthy,"  say 
they,  "  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open  the  seals  thereof; 
for  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by 
thy  hlood,  out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  peo- 
ple, and  nation  ;  and  hast  made  us  unto  our  God  kings 
and  priests  ;  and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth."  Here, 
the  suiferings  and  death  of  Christ  have  a  j^rommsnce 
which  strikingly  illustrates  their  infinite  moment  and 
worth.  They  are  acknowledged  by  the  redeemed,  as 
the  grand  procuring  cause  of  their  salvation ;  as  the 
source  of  all  their  blessings,  and  joys,  and  honors,  in 
time  and  eternity.  In  their  Saviour's  blood,  they  have 
a  real  redemption — redemption  from  sin,  and  all  its 
dreadful  consequences  ;  redemption  to  God,  and  to  im- 


mortal  glory.  They  do  not  regard  the  death  of  Christ, 
as  it  has  been  too  often  regarded,  merely  as  an  exam- 
ple of  submission,  or  as  a  seal  of  the  truth  of  his  doc- 
trines, or  as  a  mere  exhibition  of  God's  regard  for  his 
law,  or  as  placing  sinners  within  the  reach  of  pardon. 

But  they  regard  it  as  a  proper  atonement  for  sin, 
and  the  meritorious  price  of  all  spiritual  and  eternal 
blessings  for  his  people.  Such  is  the  doctrine  uni- 
formly and  most  explicitly  taught  throughout  the  sa- 
cred Scriptures.  Such  is  the  foundation  on  which  the 
pious  of  every  age  have  reposed  with  confidence  for 
time,  and  for  eternity.  Deny  the  atonement ;  and 
you  blot  out  the  grand  peculiarity  of  the  gospel ;  you 
blot  out  the  sun  from  the  spiritual  heavens,  and  you 
tear  from  the  bosom  of  the  Christian  his  dearest  hope. 
Deny  the  atonement ;  and  you  restore  to  death  its 
sting,  and  to  the  grave  its  baleful  victory.  Deny  the 
atonement ;  and  you  rob  the  Saviour  of  his  highest 
glory ;  while  you  strike  a  note  of  harshest  discord  with 
the  eternal  song  of  the  redeemed. 

But  why  is  this  song  styled,  in  the  text,  a  neiv  song  ? 

We  reply,  first ;  because  there  was  a  period  when  it 
was  literally  new  to  heaven  itself.  The  church,  under 
the  ancient  dispensation,  celebrated  the  glories  of  God 
the  Creator.  They  gave  him  honor  for  all  his  vronders 
of  power  and  mercy  wrought  in  their  behalf.  Espe- 
cially did  they  celebrate,  in  strains  of  rapture,  the  de- 
liverance of  his  church  from  Egypt — the  type  of  a 
more  glorious  redemption  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and 
Satan.     And  all  the  pious  of  ancient  time  looked  for- 


8 


ward  to  the  day  of  the  Messiah  with  humble  faith,  and 
joyful  anticipation.  From  the  redemption  he  was  to 
accomplish,  they  derived  all  their  comfort  in  life,  their 
support  in  death,  and  their  hope  of  immortal  glory. 
But  they  could  not  celebrate  this  great  work  as  ac- 
tually finished.  Nor,  before  the  advent  of  Christ, 
could  even  the  church  triumphant  celebrate  the  price 
of  its  ransom,  and  its  glory  as  actually  paid.  But 
when  the  Son  of  God  appeared  in  flesh  ;  and  when, 
having  expired  on  the  cross  as  a  sacrifice,  he  reascend- 
ed  to  heaven,  clothed  with  all  his  mediatorial  offices 
and  glories,  then  a  new  scene  commenced.  A  new 
lustre  gladdened  the  regions  of  immortal  light.  New 
raptures  of  joy  were  poured  into  the  hearts  of  its  blest 
inhabitants.  They  beheld  in  the  midst  of  them,  the 
Friend,  the  Saviour,  who  had  recently  died,  in  unut- 
terable agony,  for  their  redemption.  They  beheld, 
even  in  his  glorified  body,  the  signatures  of  those  suf- 
ferings, perhaps  the  scars  of  those  wounds,  to  which 
they  traced  their  immortal  salvation.  Hence  their 
new  anthems  of  praise.  Hence  their  new  song — a 
song  unheard,  even  in  heaven  before  :  ''  Worthy  is  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain  " — '^  Thou  hast  redeemed  us  to 
God  by  thy  blood." 

Again  ;  it  is  called  a  7iew  song,  on  account  of  its 
transcendent  excellence.  Such,  sometimes,  is  the  im- 
port and  force  of  the  term  employed.  When  the 
Psalmist  exclaims,  in  a  rapture  of  devotion  :  "  0  sing 
unto  the  Lord  a  new  song,"  he  calls  for  a  strain  of 
praise  more  grand  and   sublime   than  any  which  had 


9 


been  known  before — praise  which  might  correspond 
with  the  new  and  transcendent  display  of  divine  glory 
and  goodness.  The  song  of  the  redeemed  far  trans- 
cends in  excellence  all  other  songs.  It  converses  with 
the  brightest  glories  of  the  Deity.  It  celebrates  the 
most  subhme  and  stupendous  of  all  his  works — myste- 
ries into  which  angels  desire  to  look — a  scheme  of  re- 
demption which  employed  the  counsels  of  Heaven  from 
eternity ;  and  which,  in  its  gradual  development,  dis- 
plays such  unsearchable  riches  of  wisdom  and  power, 
such  matchless  combinations  of  majesty  and  condescen- 
sion, truth  and  mercy,  purity  and  love,  as  are  calcu- 
lated to  pour  a  flood  of  rapture  into  the  astonished 
mind,  and  to  call  forth  all  its  faculties,  and  all  its  af- 
fections, to  their  highest  possible  exercise. 

In  a  word ;  it  may  well  be  called  a  neiv  song,  as  it 
will  never  become  old;  never  lose  its  attractions; 
never  cease  to  supply  to  the  most  enlarged  and  exalted 
minds,  materials  for  delightful  contemplation.  There 
are  few  themes,  my  hearers,  which  are  absolutely  in- 
exhaustible. Most  of  the  subjects  of  our  contempla- 
tion, as  they  lose  their  novelty,  lose  likewise  their  at- 
tractions. Some  subjects  which  have  attracted,  and 
even  surprised  us  for  a  while,  have,  on  a  more  familiar 
acquaintance,  left  us  no  ground  of  wonder,  excepting 
our  former  admiration.  Far  different,  in  all  these  re- 
spects, is  the  subject  of  redemption.  To  the  transient 
and  superficial  observer,  it  exhibits  little  to  surprise,  or 
to  interest.  But  to  the  careful,  devoted  student,  it 
discloses  unsuspected  beauties,  and  unknown  wonders. 


10 


Every  accession  of  kno-wledge  imparts  new  delightj^ 
and  excites  new  astonishment.  And  he  who  has  pene- 
trated farthest  into  the  mysteries  of  this  divine  theme, 
is  most  convinced  that  it  is  absolutely  exhaustless  ;  that 
it  contains  new  mysteries,  not  only  undiscovered,  but 
by  finite  minds,  absolutely  undiscoverable.  Yes ;  in 
the  love  of  Jesus ,  there  is  a  height  and  a  depth,  a 
length  and  a  breadth,  calculated  to  afford  everlasting 
employment  to  the  ever  expanding,  ever  active  mind 
of  man  ;  calculated  to  call  forth  an  admiration  forever 
fresh,  and  a  song  forever  new. 

And  who  are  the  happy  persons  that  sing  this  new 
and  everlasting  song  ? 

The  inquiry  is  most  interesting.  "We  have  already 
described  them  under  the  general  appellation  of  the 
redeemed.  In  the  context,  they  are  introduced  to  our 
\dew  under  the  description  of  the  four  living  beings, 
and  fhe  four  and  twenty  elders.  The  former  term  has 
been  generally  understood  to  mean  the  ministers  of  the 
gospely  to  whom  pertained  the  office  and  duty  of 
spreading  the  tidings  of  heavenly  mercy  throughout 
the  four  quarters  of  the  earth.  The  four  and  twenty 
elders  are  probably  to  be  considered  as  representing 
the  twelve  patriarchs,  and  the  twelve  apostles  ;  in  other 
wordSy  the  whole  church  of  God,  both  under  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  dispensations.  The  aew  and 
everlasting  song  of  heaven,  then,  is  sung  by  all  the 
faithful  ministers  of  Jesus,  and  by  all  the  members  of 
his  true  church,  collected  from  every  age  and  clime, 
from  every  tribe  and  nation  ;    and  by  none  beside. 


11 


A  more  particular  and  characteristic  description  of 
these  happy  persons,  we  shall  find  in  another  part  of 
this  inspired  book.  In  the  fourteenth  chapter,  thej 
are  represented  as  standing,  together  with  their  Re- 
deemer, on  mount  Zion,  having  his  Father^  s  name 
written  in  their  foreheads.  This  signifies  that  they 
belonged  to  the  divine  family  ;  they  bore  the  divine 
image  ;  they  openly  and  courageously  declared  them- 
selves, while  on  earth,  as  on  the  Lord"'s  side  ;  and  they 
substantiated  the  sacred  profession  by  a  real  devotion 
of  heart  and  life  to  his  service  and  honor.  They  are 
likewise  described  as  undefiled  and  chaste — virgins — 
pure  in  heart,  and  uncorrupt  in  deportment.  It  is  de- 
clared of  them,  that  theg  follow  the  Larah  ivhitherso- 
ever  he  goeth.  "WTiile  they  rely  on  his  atoning  blood 
for  pardon,  and  salvation,  they  imbibe  his  spirit  of 
meekness,  love  and  purity  ;  they  imitate  his  perfect 
example  ;  they  adhere  to  his  doctrines,  precepts  and 
ordinances  ;  they  resign  themselves  to  the  conduct  of 
his  word,  his  Spirit,  his  providence,  though  tribulation, 
persecution,  or  death  itself  should  be  the  consequence. 
It  is  added.  These  tvere  redeemed  from  among  men — 
redeemed  by  poio^r^  as  well  as  by  price ;  redeemed  by 
die  Spirit  of  Christ,  as  well  as  by  his  blood  ;  redeemed 
not  only  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  an  eternal  hell, 
but  from  the  power  of  sinful  propensities,  and  from  this 
present  evil  world.  In  fine,  it  is  declared  that  in  their 
mouths  was  found  no  guile ;  for  they  are  without 
fault  before  the  throne  of  God.  That  is  to  say  ;  they 
were  free  from  hypocrisy  and  deceit ;  their  profession 


12 


of  love  to  Christ,  and  devotion  to  his  cause,  was  the 
truth,  and  no  lie.  And  notwithstanding  ten  thousand 
lamented  infirmities  and  defects,  they  were  chargeable 
with  no  habitually  indulged  sin  ;  no,  not  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  omniscient  and  heart-searching  God. — 
Such  are  the  persons,  and  such  alone,  who  sing  the 
new  song  ;  for,  says  the  inspired  writer,  no  man  could 
learn  that  song,  hut  the  hundred  and  forty-four  thou- 
sand which  were  redeemed  from  the  earth.  None 
could  cordially  unite  in  it,  none  could  taste  its  sweet- 
ness, none  could  even  enter  into  its  genuine  meaning, 
but  those  whom  the  grace  of  Heaven  has  taught,  and 
sanctified,  and  separated  from  a  wicked  world.  It  re- 
quired a  spirit,  a  heart  attuned  to  its  sacred  strains. 
Therefore  the  impenitent  and  unholy  were  forever  de- 
barred, and  self-deharred  from  having  any  part  in  it. 
It  can  be  sung  only  by  the  redeemed  and  sanctified 
followers  of  the  Lamb. 

And  with  what  emotions  do  they  sing  this  new 
song  ? 

Doubtless  the  language  of  mortals  is  very  inadequate 
to  express  them.  Nor  can  we  even  form  a  conception 
on  the  subject,  which  will  not  fall  far  short  of  the 
reality.  Still,  we  may  be  assured  that  the  spirit  which 
animates  the  new  song,  is  a  spirit  of  the  profoundest 
humility  and  self-abasement .  For  what  were  those 
who  chant  it,  once,  but  rebels  against  their  God,  and 
ingrates  to  their  Saviour  ?  And  rebels  and  ingrates 
they  would  have  continued  forever- — wretched  by  their 
own   depravity — doubly   wretched   by   their   Maker's 


13 


frown — but  for  his  own  sovereign  and  astonishing 
mercy.  This  they  feel ;  and  this  they  can  never  for- 
get. They  felt  and  confessed  it,  while  on  earth.  But 
in  heaven,  their  views  of  their  unworthiness  are  vastly 
strengthened  and  enlarged.  The  glories  of  a  present 
Deity  dart  on  their  minds  new  convictions  of  the  ma- 
lignity and  odiousness  of  sin.  And  when  they  recol- 
lect how  low  they  were  originally  sunk  in  guilt ;  how 
long  they  resisted  the  call  of  heavenly  mercy  ;  and 
what  poor  returns  they  rendered,  even  after  their  con- 
version, to  the  Saviour  who  redeemed  them  by  his 
blood,  and  conquered  their  hearts  by  his  power,  how 
deep,  how  overwhelming  must  be  their  abasement. 
With  what  ardor  must  they  breathe  out  the  confession, 
that  not  hy  ivorks  of  righteousness  ivhieli  they  have 
done,  but  according  to  the  riches  of  heavenly  mercy 
they  are  saved.  With  what  overwhelming  sensibility 
must  they  exclaim,  IVot  unto  lis,  not  unto  us,  hut  to 
thy  name  he  glory. 

Hence  we  remark,  that  in  proportion  to  their  self- 
abasement,  will  be  their  love  and  gratitude  to  their 
Saviour,  All  their  views  of  the  guilt  in  which  they 
were  originally  involved,  of  the  depravity  by  which 
they  were  enchained,  of  the  wrath  to  which  they  stood 
exposed,  of  the  awful,  endless  ruin  which  they  deserved, 
and  of  the  astonishing  deliverance  which  they  have  ex- 
perienced, will  but  enhance  their  sense  of  their  Sa- 
viour's love.  And  when  they  contemplate  the  aston- 
ishing forms  in  which  that  Jove  has  been  expressed  ; 
when  they  behold  in  his  sacred  body,  now  glorified, 
2 


14 


the  memorials  of  the  sufferings  which  he  endured  for 
them  ;  the  prints  of  the  nails,  and  the  spear ;  with 
what  a  tide  of  grateful  emotions  must  they  be  over- 
whelmed. How  must  they  pour  out  their  very  hearts 
in  the  song,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain — 
Thou  hast  redeemed  us  to  Crod  hy  thy  blood.  To  thee, 
bleeding  Saviour,  we  owe  all  our  salvation,  and  all  our 
bliss.  Thy  dying  agonies  have  redeemed  us  from  eter- 
nal death.  To  thy  cross  are  we  indebted  for  these 
spotless  robes  of  righteousness,  these  palms  of  victory, 
these  crowns  of  unfading  glory,  these  rivers  of  immor- 
tal delight. 

In  fine,  the  redeemed  sing  the  new  song  with  unut- 
terable emotions  of  exulting  joy.  If,  while  on  earth,  it 
was  dehghtful  to  celebrate  their  Redeemer's  praise  ; 
if  they  esteemed  those  the  brightest  and  most  privi- 
leged moments  of  life,  in  which  they  could  pour  their 
hearts  in  gratitude  to  an  unseen  and  distant  Saviour  ; 
what  must  it  be  to  find  themselves  in  his  immediate 
presence  ;  to  behold  him  face  to  face  ;  to  perceive, 
yes,  to  see  him  listening  with  infinite  condescension  and 
complacency,  to  their  songs  of  praise  ?  If  the  distant 
and  trembling  hope  of  heavenly  blessedness  was  once 
so  transporting,  what  must  its  actual  and  full  posses- 
sion be  ?  To  look  back  on  unutterable  woes  escaped  ; 
to  experience  an  overflowing  fulness  of  present  delight ; 
and  to  know,  with  undoubting  certainty,  that  this  de- 
light will  experience  neither  interruption  nor  end,  what 
varied  sources  of  happiness  are  here.  But  these  are 
not  the  only  sources  of  happiness  to  the  glorified  saint. 


15 


He  enters,  -with  a  sacred  and  generous  sympathy,  into 
the  joys  and  felicities  of  his  fellow  heirs  of  salvation. 
He  is  transported  to  find  himself  in  the  midst  of  an  im- 
mense assembly  in  which  every  heart  glows  with  ex- 
alted affection  to  his  Redeemer,  and  every  tongue  is 
employed  in  celebrating  his  glory.  Above  all  is  he 
transported  to  see  that  once  humbled  and  suffering 
Redeemer  re-invested  with  his  heavenly  felicities ; 
wearing  those  peculiar  and  immortal  honors  which  his 
death  has  purchased ;  receiving  the  humblest,  loftiest 
ascriptions  of  praise,  not  only  from  his  ransomed  peo- 
ple, but  from  angels  and  archangels,  and  from  the 
whole  creation  of  God. 

But  human  lano^uao;e  faints  and  sinks  beneath  the 
glories  of  the  scene.  Let  us  borrow,  for  a  moment, 
the  pen  of  heavenly  Inspiration.  "  These  are  they 
which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God, 
and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple  ;  and  he 
that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them. 
They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  ; 
neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat.  For 
the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall 
feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them  to  living  fountains  of 
waters  ;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes." 

Let  us  close  with  some  reflections. 

1.  We  are  here  furnished  with  an  answer  to  the 
most  important  question  that  can  possibly  occupy  our 


16 

minds.  Who  of  us  will  be  admitted  to  the  joys  of 
heaven? — Surely,  my  beloved  hearers,  there  is  no 
question  within  the  compass  of  human  thought,  which 
is  important,  compared  with  this.  But  important  and 
infinitely  interesting  as  it  is,  it  admits  an  answer.  You 
have  seen  what  is  the  employment,  what  the  felicity  of 
glorified  saints  above.  They  are  occupied  in  an  eter- 
nal song  of  praise  to  their  Redeemer.  You  have  seen, 
too,  that  it  is  not  every  one  who  can  learn  that  song. 
From  the  nature  of  the  case,  no  unholy  person  can 
learn  it.  No  man  who  is  wedded  to  his  sins,  can  learn 
it.  No  idolater  of  the  world  can  learn  it.  No  enemy 
of  Christ  can  learn  it.  None  who  despise  or  neglect 
his  salvation,  or  trample  on  his  commands,  can  learn  it. 
— ^It  would  be  obviously  fruitless  and  absurd  for  one 
to  undertake  to  learn  to  sing^  whom  nature  has  denied 
both  an  ear,  and  a  voice.  And  most  surely,  the  un- 
holy and  impenitent  are  equally  debarred  by  their 
moral  state  and  disposition,  from  learning  the  new  song. 
The  only  difference  in  the  two  cases  is,  that  in  the  for- 
mer, the  disqualification  is  involuntary  ;  in  the  latter, 
it  is  strictly  voluntary.  But  the  redeemed  can  learn 
this  heavenly  song.  Those  who  have  experienced  a 
real^  actual  deliverance  from  the  power  of  sin,  can 
relish  it,  and  will  forever  sing  it.  All  who  bear  the 
image  of  a  holy  God  ;  all  who  supremely  love,  who  en- 
tirely trust,  who  humbly  imitate,  and  who  cordially 
obey  the  Saviour,  will  sing  it.  All  who  are  pure  in 
heart ;  who  are  sincere  and  upright  in  their  transac- 
tions with  their  Maker,  and  their  fellow-men,  will  sing 


17 


this  new  and  everlasting  song.  Examine  yourselves, 
my  beloved  hearers  ;  and  impartially  determine  whether 
you  have  these  characteristics,  or  not.  If  you  possess 
them,  you  have  decisive  evidence,  and  the  best  possi- 
ble evidence,  that  you  will  soon  rise  and  share  in  the 
employments  and  joys  of  the  heavenly  world.  But  if 
enlightened  conscience  declares  that  you  are  utter 
strangers  to  these  characteristics,  cherish  not  the  hope 
that,  in  your  present  state,  you  can  ever  enter  heaven, 
or  bear  a  part  in  the  new  song.  No :  you  must  he 
horn  again.  You  must  be  essentially,  radically 
changed  in  temper,  in  disposition,  in  heart,  in  life. 
That  Saviour  who  died  for  you  ;  that  Saviour  who 
never  uttered  an  unkind  word  ;  that  Saviour  from 
whose  lips  you  will  soon  receive  your  final,  unalterable 
sentence — He  it  is  who  declares :  You  must  he  horn 
again.  And  this  change  must  take  place,  not  in 
another  world,  but  in  this.  The  new  song,  though 
sung  in  heaven,  is  never  first  learned  in  heaven.  You 
must  learn  it  on  earth  ;  or  forever  bid  adieu  to  the 
hope  of  singing  it  in  a  better  world. 

2.  The  subject  reminds  us  of  the  transcendent  ex- 
cellence of  the  religion  of  the  gospel,  and  its  perfect 
adaptation  to  our  race.  Surely  the  spirit  which  ani- 
mates the  songs  and  felicities  of  the  blest  above,  must 
constitute  the  essential,  the  vital  spirit  of  religion. 
And  what  is  this,  but  genuine  humility  ?  Those  beati- 
fied souls  that  behold  and  enjoy  the  unveiled  glories  of 
the  Deity,  sink  proportionably  low  in  self-abasement. 
This  is  their  happiness.  This  is  their  heaven.  Take 
2* 


18 


from  them  their  overwhelming  sense  of  obligation  for 
redeeming  mercy,  and  the  happiness  of  glorified  saints 
would  be  far  inferior  to  that  of  angels.  But  we  know 
from  the  infallible  word,  that  it  will  be  far  superior. 
The  remembrance  of  their  original  guilt  and  ruin,  and 
of  that  unutterable  love  by  which  they  have  been  re- 
deemed, is  ever  fresh  in  their  bosoms.  It  gives  a 
sweetness  to  their  songs,  an  elevation  to  their  joys, 
which  angels  cannot  reach.  And  while  it  exalts  them 
in  bliss,  it  sinks  them  low  in  humility.  This  is  the 
spirit  of  heaven.  And  this,  be  it  remembered,  is  the 
grand,  essential  preparation  for  heaven.  None  who 
are  destitute  of  a  tender,  grateful,  abasing  sense  of  the 
Saviour's  condescending,  dying  love,  can  join  in  the 
everlasting  song  of  the  redeemed.  None  who  possess 
it,  can  possibly  fail  of  attaining  this  sublime  felicity. 

The  same  humility  which  prepares  for  heaven,  and 
which  charactei-izes  the  felicity  of  heaven,  is  the  source 
of  the  best  enjoyment  on  earth.  It  is  this  which  gives 
a  zest  to  every  present  comfort,  while  it  gently  extracts 
the  sting  from  every  affliction.  Feeling  that,  as  sin- 
ners, we  have  forfeited  the  mercy  of  Heaven,  we  re- 
ceive the  bounties  of  Providence  with  tender  and  de- 
lightful gratitude.  Conscious  that,  as  sinners,  we 
merit  only  frowns  and  wrath,  we  bear  the  common 
trials  of  life,  and  even  its  severest  calamities,  with  un- 
complaining submission. 

Who  does  not  know  that  the  neglect  and  reproach 
which  we  often  receive  from  fellow-creatures,  are  acu- 
minated chiefly  by  our  own  unsubdued  pride  ?     The 


19 


proud  man  is  a  kind  of  sensitive  plant,  shrinking  from 
every  touch ;  chilled  and  shriveled  bj  every  wind  that 
blows.  "While  the  humble  man  finds  shelter  and  com- 
fort in  his  own  calm  and  undisturbed  spirit.  While 
the  one,  too,  groans  under  the  self-imposed  burden  of 
resentment  for  every  real  or  fancied  injury,  the  other 
effectually  eludes  the  trouble,  by  cherishing  a  meek  and 
forgiving  spirit. 

So  true  is  it,  that  that  religion  which  trains  us  for 
heaven,  is  our  best  friend  while  we  remain  below.  It 
puts  a  crown  on  all  our  comforts.  It  facilitates  the 
exercise  of  our  best  and  most  difficult  virtues.  It  re- 
moves, or  it  greatly  mitigates,  our  afflictions.  The 
man  who  lives  daily  on  the  promises,  feasts  daily  on 
the  bread  of  heaven.  The  man  who,  with  his  Saviour, 
can  pray  for  his  enemies.  Father,  forgive  them,  for 
they  know  not  luhat  they  do — this  man  is  but  a  single 
remove  from  his  Saviour's  presence  in  glory. 

3.  Let  Christians,  in  the  view  of  our  subject,  be 
willing  to  die.  You  have  felt  the  love  of  Christ. 
Those  hearts  of  yours,  once  cold  and  insensible,  have 
known  the  heaven-enkindled  fervor  of  that  sacred 
flame.  In  some  favored,  lucid  moments  of  life,  you 
have  enjoyed  a  real  and  sweet  communion  with  your 
Saviour.  In  those  moments,  you  have  indulged  the 
transporting  hope  of  praising  him  to  eternity.  And 
you  have  felt  that  eternity  will  be  but  long  enough  for 
the  blissful  employment.  But  it  has  not  been  always 
so.  The  world,  its  cares,  its  seductions  have  too  often 
quenched  these  holy  fervors.     Too  often  has  remaining 


20 


depravity  chained  your  affections  to  earth,  or  dissipated 
them  among  a  thousand  unworthy  objects.  For  this 
you  mourn.  You  sigh  and  long  for  deliverance.  And 
this  deliverance  shall  come.  It  is  near.  Soon  you 
shall  be  with  the  Saviour  you  love.  There,  with  a 
golden  lyre,  and  a  seraph's  ardor,  you  shall  praise  him 
as  you  wish  to  praise  him.  No  sinful  object,  no  wan- 
dering thought,  no  languid  aifection  shall  interrupt 
your  joy.  But  to  arrive  at  this  height  of  bliss,  you 
must  pass  through  the  dark  and  lowly  vale.  And  why 
should  you  shrink  from  the  thought  ?  Why  not  cherish 
it  with  delight  ?  Why  not  long  for  the  kind  messen- 
ger that  comes  to  bring  you  to  the  presence  of  your 
Saviour,  and  to  all  the  joy  which  that  presence  can 
give  ? 

And  is  there  nothing  here,  worthy  of  the  attention 
and  the  solicitude  of  the  irreligious  ?  Can  you  doubt, 
my  friends,  that  there  is  a  holy  and  happy  multitude, 
once  apparently  on  the  way  to  ruin,  who  are  now  sur- 
rounding the  throne  of  heaven  ?  Can  you  doubt  that 
among  this  number,  there  are  those  whom  you  have 
known  and  loved,  while  on  earth,  and  perhaps  have 
gone  in  their  company  to  the  house  of  God  ?  Can  you 
doubt  that  even  their  blessedness  would  be  greatly  in- 
creased by  receiving  you  to  a  partnership  in  their  joys  ? 
Can  you  doubt  that  the  Saviour,  who  left  his  heaven, 
that  he  might  bring  down  heaven  to  you,  is  this  mo- 
ment waiting,  with  open  arms,  to  receive  you  ?  Will 
you,  my  friends,  can  you  continue  to  steel  your  hearts 
against  such  love,  and  such  compassion  ?     Or  will  you, 


21 


this  day,  this  happy  hour,  break  your  covenant  with 
death,  and  your  league  -with  hell,  and  yield  yourselves, 
in  faith,  in  penitence,  in  supreme  and  ardent  devotion, 
to  this  heavenly  Friend  and  Saviour  ?  Do  this,  and 
joys  unknown  before,  shall  spring  up  in  your  bosoms. 
Do  this,  and  you  are  made  for  eternity.  Do  this,  and 
you  may  look  forward  to  death  without  dismay,  and 
with  delightful  anticipation,  to  the  joys  of  an  eternal 
heaven. 

There,  with  united  heart  and  voice, 

Before  the  eternal  throne, 
Ten  thousand  thousand  souls  rejoice 

In  extacies  unknown. 
And  yet  ten  thousand  thousand  more 

Are  welcome  still  to  come  ! 
Ye  longing  souls,  the  grace  adore  ; 

Approach,  there  yet  is  room. 

I  cannot  persuade  myself  to  leave  this  delightful 
subject,  without  offering  a  word  on  the  dignity  and 
importance  of  sacred  music,  considered  as  a  part  of 
the  worship  of  God  in  the  earthly  sanctuary.  We  have 
seen  that  glorified  saints  above  celebrate  the  praises  of 
their  God  and  Redeemer  in  a  song.  Thus  they  ex- 
press their  emotions  of  impassioned  gratitude,  and  holy 
love.  This  is  their  unceasing  employment,  their  sub- 
lime felicity.  Nor  is  there  any  employment  on  earth, 
in  which  we  make  so  near  an  approach  to  the  work  and 
bliss  of  heaven,  as  that  in  which  we  sing,  with  pious 
fervor  and  delight,  the  praises  of  God.  For  here  we 
concentrate  all  the  powers  of  our  nature,  our  spiritual 
faculties,  and  our  bodily  organs,  in  the  same  service, 
and  that  of  the  noblest  kind.     The  excellent  President 


22 

Edwards  informs  us,  that  in  a  great  revival  of  religion 
in  Northampton,  the  pious  people  spent  much  time  in 
singing;  and  that  they  found  the  employment  re- 
markably efficacious  to  excite  their  religious  affections, 
and  to  bring  down  something  of  heaven  to  earth.  Nor 
can  it  be  denied,  that  there  is  that  in  sacred  music 
which  is  peculiarly  fitted  to  solemnize  and  elevate  the 
mind,  to  disenchain  it  from  earthly  objects,  and  to 
rouse  all  its  best  and  holiest  affections  into  vigorous  ex- 
ercise. If  such  is  the  high  office  of  sacred  music,  it 
ought  surely  to  be  considered  as  something  very  differ- 
ent from  a  mere  gratification  of  sense,  or  a  mere 
amusement  of  the  fancy.  To  regard  it  in  this  light,  is 
to  degrade  it.  It  is  irreverent,  not  to  say  profane  ; 
for  it  is  to  pervert  a  divine  ordinance  to  the  purpose  of 
mere  unhallowed  gratification.  Never  let  it  be  forgot- 
ten, that  when  we  engage  in  sacred  music,  we  pro- 
fessedly place  ourselves  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
the  Deity.  We  make  a  particular  and  solemn  address 
to  that  awful  Being  with  whom  is  the  breath  of  our 
life,  and  the  destiny  of  our  immortal  souls.  Nothing 
can  be  more  evident  than  that,  in  such  circumstances, 
the  utmost  reverence  is  indispensably  incumbent.  If, 
as  all  must  acknowledge,  an  air  of  thoughtlessness  and 
levity,  while  we  are  engaged  in  prayer^  is  a  species  of 
impiety,  why  should  it  be  thought  less  so  when  we  are 
engaged  in  praise.  Who  that  contemplates  the  pro- 
found solemnity  and  awe  which  pervades  the  worship 
of  glorified  saints  and  angels  in  heaven,  can  avoid  be- 
ing pained  at  the  irreverence  manifested  in  some  pri- 


23 


vate  circles,  and  even  in  some  Christian  assemblies, 
while  praise  is  sung  to  the  eternal  and  omnipresent  Je- 
hovah ?  Is  it  not  likewise  to  be  regretted,  that  the 
performance  of  this  interesting  part  of  divine  worship 
should  be  confined,  as  it  too  generally  is,  to  a  very 
small  portion  of  the  assembly  ?  Why  should  it  be  so  ? 
Is  not  singing  the  praises  of  God  a  divine  ordinance  ? 
Has  the  Christian  church  fewer  materials  and  incen- 
tives for  praise,  than  were  possessed  by  the  Jewish 
church  ?  If  a  very  small  portion  in  our  assemblies  are 
constitutionalli/  debarred  from  an  active  part  in  this 
work,  shall  the  great  majority,  who  have  no  such  dis- 
qualification, remain  silent  ?  Grant  that  accuracy 
and  grace  of  performance  are  desirable,  shall  all  be 
excluded  who  do  not  completely  rise  to  this  standard  ? 
Or  shall  a  change  in  the  tunes  employed  be  so  exceed- 
ingly frequent  as  to  constrain  nearly  the  whole  congre- 
gation to  be  mere  silent  hearers  ? 

It  is  likewise  important  that  the  music  employed  in 
the  worship  of  God,  should  possess  a  character  and 
style  adapted  to  this  high  and  sacred  purpose.  It  is 
needless  to  say,  that  such  is  not  the  description  of  all 
music.  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  tunes  which,  for  many  years,  have  been 
employed  in  our  congregations,  are  destitute  of  most 
of  the  attributes  which  should  recommend  them  to  the 
service  of  the  sanctuary.  Far  from  being  fraught  with 
that  dignity,  simpHcity  and  tenderness  which  are  fitted 
to  excite  and  to  express  the  best  emotions  of  the  soul, 
they  have  tended  rather  to  dissipate  serious  thought, 


24 


to  chill  the  ardor  of  devotion,  to  disgust  cultivated 
minds,  and  to  gratify  onlj  the  frivolous  and  the  gay. 
They  may  fill  the  ear,  and  they  may  gratify  a  vagrant 
fancy  ;  but  they  starve  the  mind.  It  is,  however,  con- 
soling to  reflect  that  tunes  of  this  description  are,  in 
many  instances,  sinking  into  merited  disregard,  and 
that  a  taste — perhaps  I  may  say  a  demand — for  music 
of  a  dignified  and  impressive  character  is  dijffusing  it- 
self in  various  regions  of  our  country. 

Is  it  not  desirable,  too,  that  with  a  change  so  auspi- 
cious in  the  matter  of  our  psalmody,  there  should  be  a 
correspondent  improvement  in  the  style  of  execution  ? 
— an  improvement  which  shall  render  the  music  of  our 
public  assemblies  what  it  ought  to  be — one  of  the  most 
solemn,  impressive,  delightful  and  edifying  parts  of  the 
whole  service.  It  is  a  sad  and  humbling  evidence  of 
the  earthliness  of  our  minds,  that  we  are  so  capable  of 
celebrating,  with  little  emotion,  the  glories  of  the 
Deity,  and  the  wonders  of  his  creating  power,  and 
providential  goodness.  Still  more  humbling  is  it  to 
reflect,  that  those  mysteries  of  redeeming  love  which 
fill  angelic  minds  with  admiration,  and  glorified  saints 
with  rapture,  should  so  often  leave  our  hearts  insensi- 
ble and  cold.  0  when  shall  it  be  otherwise  ?  When 
shall  w^e  see  a  whole  assembly  animated  with  the  spirit 
of  pure  devotion,  and  pouring  the  fervor  of  their  in- 
most hearts  into  the  songs  of  Zion  ?  When  shall  the 
praises  of  the  earthly  sanctuary  afford  an  emblem  and 
anticipation  of  the  songs  and  felicities  of  heaven  ? 


